OPERATING THEATRE

• Keep all doors to operating theatre closed except as needed for passage of equipment, personnel, patients
• Store some sutures, extra instruments
• Minimize number of people allowed to enter
• Keep room uncluttered, easy to clean
• Between cases, clean and disinfect table, instruments, surfaces

HAND WASHING

• Hand washing: the single most important measure for prevention of infection
• Plain soap and water is effective for removal of visible contaminants
• Wash with vigorous mechanical action on all hand surfaces for at least 40 seconds; washing above wrists, removing jewellery
• Nails are areas of greatest contamination
• Rinse under poured or running water

HOW TO HAND WASH

To effectively reduce the growth of germs on hands, hand washing must last 40–60 s and should be performed by following all of the illustrated steps.

HOW TO HAND RUB

To effectively reduce the growth of germs on hands, hand rubbing must be performed by following all of the illustrated steps. This takes only 20–30 seconds!